IndyCar: Sunday Report from the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach

Good morning from Long Beach.  The weather is going to be just a touch warmer today and much different from the 55 degree Friday afternoon practice session.  Temperatures are predicted to hit 70 degrees this afternoon.

Yesterday was not a good day for some drivers.  The track had to replace some curbing in turn 5 that came up Friday morning and could not be fixed until everything was done for the day.  It seems that no one was informed before the NTT INDYCAR Series drivers went out for the Saturday morning practice session.

Callum Ilott, in the No 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing entry, hit the new curbing, which was a bit more elevated than the ones the day before and put his car in the tire barrier in Turn 5.  Ten minutes later, Rinus VeeKay, in the No 21 Ed Carpenter Racing entry, also made contact in the same tire barrier.

AR1 talked with the 24-year-old British driver on Pine Avenue after dinner last night and was still slightly annoyed with the situation.  Ilott was disappointed in the fact that he drove the same line as the day before and yet he crashed the car on his first lap in practice.

When TV interviewed Ilott right after the incident, he stated that the track or IndyCar should pay for the  damages to his car.

Usually, the teams are informed when the track has changes but the series felt that the track stayed the same because the curbing was there on Friday, no one was aware that two pieces of the replaced curbing was a bit higher.

David Malukas, the driver of the No. 18 HMD for Dale Coyne Racing, had an incident yesterday in qualifying and damaged his car heavily when he hit the tire barrier in Turn 4.  Malukas was checked in Medical after the crash but must be checked out again this morning before he can be cleared to drive in today’s race.

The morning warmup is scheduled  for 9 am PST.  The cars will be gridded today at 12:05 pm and the start of the race will be at 12:45 pm.

Lucille Dust reporting live from Long Beach